Lock assembly



Dec. 14 1926. 1,610,543

R. K. WINNING LOCK ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 10, 1923 INVEN TOR.

5M wlizwwg A TTORNEYJ,

- important Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT K. WINNING, or mnwmrxnn, wIscoNsIN, ASSIGNOR '10 CLUM MANUFAc TUBING COMPANY, or MILWAUKEE, wiscoNsm.

LOCK ASSEMBLY.

Application filed September 10, 1923. Serial No. 661,818.

This invention relates to improvements in lock mechanism. More particularly this invention relates to a type of lock in which the barrel is secured against rotation or released for rotation through the movement of a set of transversely reciprocable plates or tumblers arranged to be actuated to or from their normal laterally projectin positions by the removal or introduction of a key into the barrel.

In the type of lock to which this invention relates the movement of the lock plates or tumblers which secure the barrel against rotation is controlled by serrations in the lateral margins of being ordinarily symmetrical upon oppositemargins. depths of key insertion will ordinarily be an factor in determining the proportionate movement of the lates or tumblers actuated thereby. In or er to ensure that the proper serrations of notches upon the key will be aligned with the proper tumblers or plates at the limit of key movement axially with respect to the barrel, it has heretofore been customary to determine the depth of key insertion by a suitable grinding operation, providing for accuracy of contact between shoulders u on the handle of the key and the end sur ace of the barrel. Accuracy could not be secured merely in the casting or cutting of the key and the barrel since slight differences in expansion of the metal during the operation of forming the parts of each individual lock results in inequalities which has to be corrected by separate and individual operations upon each lock.

It is one of the objects of this invention to overcome the necessity for performing separate grinding operations upon each lock. Inasmuch as the result contemplated in the grinding operation aforesaid consists of the proper-regulation of the depth of key insertion with respect to the sliding plates or tumblers which the key controls, I have coneeived the idea of providing a limiting shoulder upon the key adapted to be admitted within the barrel and to contact directly with the face of one of the sliding plates or tumblers. preferably the first. If the plates or tumblers are secured against axial movement and are fixed in their proper relative positions, it will be obvious that the 'key, such serrations Thus it will be obvious that thethe provision of limiting means upon the key to act directly upon the plates will ensure that the serrations of the key will be properly aligned with each of the. several plates and the objectionable effects of inequalities in the'barrel will be obviated without separate treatment of each barrel.

It is a further important object of this invention'to provide novel and sim le means for controlling the displacement o the sliding plates or tumblers whereby the lock cylinder is secured against rotation. Some lock manufacturers rely upon gravity or friction to maintain the lock tumbler or plates in their normal displacement, others iave provided an individual spring for each tumbler, still others have arranged single springs to actuate the tumblers in sets, the arrangement being such that the spring acts upon the tumblers through interposed motion transmitting devices. As will be more fully brought out hereinafter, the present invention contemplates the use of a single spring for actuating all of the tumblers 0r plates, said spring being of an extremely simple construction, yet being so disposed and supported as to act directly upon each of the several tumblers or plates to impel them to their operative locking positions.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an axial section through a lock barrel exposing a key inserted therein.

Figure 2 is an axial section through a lock mechanism in the plane indicated at 2-2 in Figure 4. I

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4: is an inverted plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail vlew of the different tumblers or plates which are used in the construction of the particular lock herein disclosed.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The lock mechanism herein disclosed is of features susceptible of use wherever locks of this type herein disclosed are constructed.

The cylinder of the lock herein disclosed comprises a metallic block 10 which is preferably encased in a steel jacket 11 which may be provided with tongues 12 bent over block 10 to retain said block therein. The entire cylinder is imbedded in the housing as aforesaid and is retained therein by a springpressed key 13 within recess 14 and adapted to be propelled operatively by springl to engage behind a shoulder in the housing whereby the lock will be secured against unauthorized removal.

The lock barrel 20 is mounted for rotation within the cylinder and may be retained therein by a series of discs 21 and 22 en gaged by ears 12 of the shell 11. The disks may also be adapted, if desired, for interaction to limit the degree of possible rotation of the barrel 20. The barrel is extended through disk 22 as at 23 and isprovided with a transverse opening 24 within which any kind of bolt or bolt-actuating member may be used without affecting the features toward which this invention is directed. It will be understood that the present invention is concerned more particularly with the key controlled portions of the lock.

The block is provided upon diametri cally opposite sides of barrel with suitable recesses 25 arranged to receive the sliding tumblers or plates hereinafter to be described. In the particular lock herein illustrated, eight of such sliding tumblers or plates are mounted in an opening 27 of rectangular cross-section which extends transversely across the barrel 20 of the lock. Each of the tumblers or plates is independently reciprocable within the rectangular opening The tumblers or sliding plates are shown in detail in Figure 5. Only three different varietiesof such plates are necessary to make a total of eight in the lock. Plate 28 has a rectangular opening 29 which is considerably olfset from its axis. Plate 30 has a similar opening 31 offset to a lesser degree. Plate 32 has a corresponding rectangular opening 33 which is disposed substantially symmetrically with reference to the axis of the plate. It will be obvious that each of said plates is of a lengtlrcorresponding to the diameter of barrel 27. Furthermore,

each of the plates is provided with arcuate ends of a curvature conforming with the curvature of the barrel, whereby, when the several plates are retracted by the key to a position in which they are shown in Figure l, the ends of the plate lie substantially within the cylindrical surface of the barrel. The side of each plate is notched in the manner indicated at 34. It will be noted that the notches 34 are not symmetrically disposed with reference to the axes of the plates but are. materially nearer to one end of each plate than the other.

In this particular lock two plates 28 are placed at each end of the series within opening 27 as indicated in Figure 2.- However, the two plates at one end of the series are inverted from the position occupied by the two plates at the other end of the series so that the notches 34. will be nearer the right-hand end of the plates 28 at the upper end of the series and will be in the left-hand end of the plates at the lower end of the \series. Between the two sets of plates 28, one plate 30, two plates 32, and another plate 30 may be disposed in the order named, each 'of said plates being inverted from the position occupied by its corresponding plate as illustrated. It will be understood that by inverting the plates, by changing their relative position, or by adding different plates in which the openings 29, 31 and 33 are offset to a' greater or less degree, the operation of the lock may be varied to require different tyaes of keys for plateactuation.

The key which is designated in its entirety by reference character 35 is provided with a pointed bit 36 having a ward 37 adapted to interact with a complementary ward 37 in barrel 20. The margin of the bit of the key is so serrated that when the key is introduced into the barrel the sci-ration upon the margin of bit 36 will act as cam surfaces upon the margins of openings 29, 31, 33 to reciprocate plates 28, 30, and 32 transversely. of the barrel. such that when the key has been inserted to the desired depth within the barrel, the several plates will all have been retracted within the barrel to the positions in which they appear in Figure 1.

In order to ensure accuracy it has heretofore been customary not only to provide for an accurate fit of plates 28, 30 and 32 within the bearing opening 27 but also to grind the extremity 38 of the barrel and shoulder 33) of the handle of the key to an accurate fit, whereby to limit the inward movement of the key to precisely the correct amount.

In t ie present device I retain the accuracy with which the plates 28, 30 and 32 are secured against axial movement within the barrel. The grinding operation between the extremity 28 of the barrel and shoulder 29 is, however, dispensed with. In lieu thereof, I provide a shoulder 40 upon the bit 36 of the key, which shoulder is adapted for contact with the first plate of the series. Thereby the plates are forced into operative juxtaposition against any tendency for them to separate and the shoulder 40, which may be formed at the same time that the serrations are cut in the mar ins of the bit 36, will positively and accurately limit the inward movement of the key to precisely the correct amount.

The serrations are Ill) This second slot is so disposed as to be in the plane of the notches 34 in the sliding plates.

Within slot 43 is a sprinv 45 of the peculiar form best illustrated in Figure 2. Spring 45 includes two parallel arms 46, each of a length greater than the combined axial extent of the series of sliding plates. Simplicity of construction and flexibility are secured for springs 45 by forming the connecting portion 47 thereof into a helix and crossing the portions intermediate the helix and said arms. The resilient helical portion of the spring receives a transverse which secures the spring in place. The pin itself is secured by the annular or disk-like member 21 within the enclosure of which the pin 48 is disposed. The spring is thus secured against such axial movement as might result in its loss by means of the peg 48 and is secured against bodily transverse displacement by the walls of the slot within which it is confined and with which the arms 46 find contact above and below the transverse opening 27 in which the tumblers are reciprocable.

In operation, the parts of the lock mechanism having been assembled as indicatedin the accompanying drawing and a key having been provided which is formed to interact in the usual manner with the particular arrangement of tumblers or plates employed, the key bit 36 will be introduced into the axially extending slot 42 in the lock barrel 20. The inward movement of the key will be limited by shoulder upon the bit 46 thereof, said'shoulder being adapted to enter the barrel to a position for contact with the first of the series of plates or tumblers 28, 30 and 32. Inasmuch as the plates are secured against axial movement, the contact of shoulder 40 therewith will positively define the correct position for the key and ensure that the proper portions of the serrated margin of the bit will accurately register with the corresponding plates.

As the key moves inwardly toward the ultimate position defined by the contact of its shoulder 40 with the tumblers, the serrated margins of the key will be productiveof reciprocation hr the tumblers. The tumblers, normally thrust outwardly inopposite directions to the limit of movement of arms 46,. are set in motion by the key and ultimately brought to rest in their repin 48 tracted positions. Each plate or tumbler brought to its retracted position will be acted upon by the spring. The sprin itself is inaccessible from the-top of the ock and anyone trying '00 manipulate the tumblers in an unauthorized manner by their independent actuation will be prevented from the consummation of his purpose by the spring which will return' each tumbler to its normally projecting position whenever the tumbler is released.

I claim:

1. In a lock mechanism,.the combination with a. set of transversely movable key-controlled members secured against axial movement and provided with key receivin apertures, of a key adapted for insert-ion tfi said apertures and formed to regulate the movement of said members in accordance with the axial movement of said ke through said apertures, and means carrie by said key for abutment against one of said members, whereby said key will be positively limited as to the extent of its axial movement by the direct-contact of said key with one of said members.

2. In a lock, the combination with a barrel mounted for rotation and provided with intersecting apertures, of a plurality of transversely reciprocable key actuated members each provided with a key receiving aperture and confined against axial movement in one of the apertures in said barrel, a key receivable into the other aperture of said barrel and adapted for insertion through the apertures of said members, said key bein provided with serrated margins adapted or co-operation with said members, whereby to control the transverse reciprocation of said members in accordance with the extent of key insertion into said barrel, and a'shoulder carried by said key and receivable into the key receiving aperture of said barrel, said shoulder being disposed to abut the first of said members.

3. In a lock device the combination with a lock barrel mounted for rotation and provided with a transversely extending opening and a key receiving slot extending axially of said barrel and intersecting said opening, of a plurality of transversely reciprocable plates confined against axial movement in said opening and provided with key receiving apertures, and a key including a bit portion havin a serrated margin terminating in a shou der adapted for abutment against one of said members, the axial movement of said bit portion through said slot bein determinative of the reciprocation of said members and said key being adapted for unlimited movement into said slot to the point of abutment between said shoulder and the member arranged for contact therewith.

4. A look device including the combina rough Fill tion with a series of transversely slidable tumblers in face contact and res onsive to axial movements of a key, of a liey shouldered for engagement with one of said tumblers at one end of said series and adapted in its axial movement to transmit transverse movement to said tumblers. and a barrel adapted to receive the shoulder portion of said key and provided with means at the other end of said series for confining said tumblers against axial movement.

5. A look mechanism including the combination with a cylinder having a central bore and diametrically opposite recesses, of a barrel mounted for rotation in said bore and provided with a transverse opening and a pair of axial slots, tumblers arranged for reciprocation through said opening into said recesses in operative engagement with said cylinder, said tumblers being provided with openings in the planes of each of the slots of the barrel, a key receivable into one of the slots of the barrel, and a spring disposed in the other slot of the barrel in a position for operative contact with each of said tumblers.

6; In a lock mechanism, the combination with a lock barrel provided with a transverse opening and an axially extending slot, of a plurality of tumblers reciproca-ble in said opening and provided with apertures variously disposed with reference to their respective centers, and a single spring disposed within the slot of the barrel in a position for direct contact with the margin of each tumbler adjacent the aperture therein.

7. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a barrel provided with a key slot and a transverse opening, of a plurality of reciprocable members disposed within said opening and provided with spaced shoulders variously positioned with reference to the centers of their respective members, a spring including a pair of substantially parallel arms, intermediate portions connected with said arms and crossing each other, and a .coiled portion connecting said intermediate portions, said spring being adapted to maintain said shoulders in substantial alignment whereby to impel said tumblers to various positions.

8. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a barrel having an axially extending spring recess, of a plurality of transversely reciprocable tumblers supported from said barrel and each provided with spaced shoulders variously positioned with reference to the centers of their respective tumblers but adapted for mutual alignment, a spring positioned within said recess and including a helical connecting portion, intermediate portions crossing each other and spaced arms adapted respectively for engagement with oppositely disposed shoulders upon each of said tumblers, and a pin connected with said barrel and extending through said helical spring portion whereby to position said spring in its recess.

9. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a rotatable part provided with transversely and axially extending apertures, of a set of transversely movable key-controlled tumblers substantially confined against axial movement in the transverse aperture of said part and provided with key-receiving openings, and a key shouldered for engagement with the first of a plurality of tumblers in said set and adapted for insertion into the axial aperture of said part to a position for such engagement.

10. In a lock mechanism, the combination with a rotatable part provided with transversely and axially extending apertures, of a set of transversely movable key-controlled tumblers substantially confined against axial movement in the transverse aperture of said part and provided with key-receiving openings, and a key shouldered for engagement with the first ot a plurality of tumblers in said set and adapted for insertion into the axial aperture of said part to a position for such engagement, said key being wholly unobstructed in its movement through said part except for said engagement, whereby said plurality of tumblers may be subjected to, compression proportionate to pressure exerted on the key.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotatable part of a lock, said part being provided with laterally spaced axially extending openings and with a transverse aperture intersecting both of said openings, of a tumbler arranged for reciprocation in said aperture and having a portion adapted to be acted upon by a key introduced through one of said openings, and a notch in the side margin of said tumbler defined by shoulders adapted to be acted upon by a spring introduced through the other of said openings, together with a spring positioned in said last mentioned openlng.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotatable part of a lock, said part being provided with a transverse opening and with laterally spaced axially extending slots, of a single spring extending through one of said slots and including arms spaced within the slot, the other of said slots being adapted to receive a key, and a plurality of plate tumblers reciprocable transversely in said opening and provided with slots alignable with said key slot and with notches in their side margins aligned with the slot in which said spring is disposed, said notches terminating in shoulders adapted to be acted upon between spaced arms of said springs.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotatable part of a lit] lock, said part being provided with a transverse opening and with axially extending slots, of a plurality of plate tumblers reciprocable transversely in said opening and provided in their side margins with corresponding notchesalignable with one of said slots and provided respectively in their intermediate portions with variously positioned slots alignable with the other of the slots of said part, together with spring means disposed in one of the slots of said part and arranged tolie in the notched marginal portions of said tumblers.

ROBERT K. WINNING. 

